Seven Killed in Bus Burned by Political Rioters in Bangladesh

Shop owners and business association representatives form a human chain to protest against blockades during a country-wide strike called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 02 February 2015. At least seven people were killed when assailants threw firebombs at a bus in eastern Bangladesh on Tuesday during a transport blockade by the political opposition, police said. EPA/ABIR ABDULLAH

DHAKA (DPA) — At least seven people were killed when assailants threw firebombs at a bus in eastern Bangladesh Tuesday during a transport blockade by the political opposition, police said.

The attack occurred on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway about 130 kilometres south-east of the capital.

Most of the passengers were asleep when the bus was attacked, police officer Nazim Uddin said. Sixteen people were taken to hospitals with severe burn injuries.

Opposition leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia began calling for the blockades in January, to press for reforms, including her demand for a caretaker government to oversee new elections.

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The ruling Awami League party rejected the demands.

A Dhaka court on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations that Zia incited riots that killed 42 people in January.